OFFICIAL: Ronaldinho sold to Milan!

[lionel]

Look at Zidane. Awsome during his late 20's, then dropped for a couple of years and then bounced back before his retirement. The same thing has happened with so many other players (Scholes, Giggs, Drogba, etc, etc, etc)

My point is that he could well bounce back. I'n not syaing he WILL, but you should perhaps be cautious of tasting humble pie.

quite possible, but barca is not the place for him to stay untill he bounces back before his retirement, we have many other players who are much better and players who need minutes to grow up.

Originally Posted by Super Pibe #7

This really sucks. Ronaldinho is ronaldinho, the player that we have all admired for the past couple of seasons. But he really has fallen off this past season and half and i think it's the management + his fault. They should've tackled his weight/fitness problems when they first appeared. It's too late for him and he no longer has any pace to his game. Playing in copa america,world cup, going to asia/north america has really drained him all his energy. The club really need to stop these tours around the world.

he decided to stay in europe and party for 30 days instead of playing in the copa america and that imo was very bad to his form. if he went there we would have seen a new (older) ronaldinho now but the parties in the summer dropped his form down.
look at messi, travelled to all those places (asia, NA(?), copa-america, WC...) and it didn't affect him. even though messi runs double the no. of kms ronaldinho runs in 90 minutes.

[BlackNess]

Barcelona president Joan Laporta doesn’t consider Ronaldinho a substitute, despite the fact that the Brazilian superstar wasn’t a starter in the club’s last two matches, against Lyon and Espanyol, respectively.

“Ronaldinho can’t be considered a substitute; he is a fundamental player in our team," insisted the Barca supremo.

"Because of different circumstances, he hasn’t been at his best, because of injuries and trips with his national team, that haven’t allowed him to find his rhythm.

"But I don’t feel that he is a substitute, he is a fundamental player for the team, and Frank (Rijkaard) knows this.”

Laporta also commented on his relationship with city rivals Espanyol, and their club president Daniel Sanchez Llibre.

"I don’t have anything against Espanyol, and if we have to do something to resolve the situation, we will do so," he said.

"I can only say this; we don’t want bad relations with Espanyol.

"We are the two most important clubs in Catalunya, and we have to respect each other, and should only have a rivalry on the football field," he affirmed.

He also thanked Barcelona striker Thierry Henry.

"I want to thank him, because he has played for us, despite not being 100 percent healthy.

"His decision to stop has come at a good time, now that some injured players have returned. It is the best time for him to recover his physical form."

When asked whether the club knew about the Frenchman's injury problems before the player was signed from Arsenal last Summer, Laporta said: "He had an injury that affected his pelvis, and it came from a chronic injury he has.

"It has affected his vertebrae, and it is a condition that has to be dealt with specifically.

"He has always had the injury, and it hasn't stopped him from playing football, and winning titles and personal trophies."

[BlackNess]

Ronaldinho's future continues to make the headlines as an outlandish report in Italy suggests that the Brazilian could buy his own way out of Barcelona.

After spending two games on the bench, the press are desperate to find a story that shows if the Blaugrana superstar is unhappy and they have gone back in time now.

According to one story, Ronaldinho's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, has talked about activating Article 17 of FIFA's statute on transfers that states that a player can buy his own contract up if he has ben with a club more than three years.

That, apparently, has meant that AC Milan or Chelsea could land him without paying a transfer fee, although the whole saga appears unlikely.

“My brother will leave if he isn’t wanted, even if he has to leave for free,” De Assis is quoted as saying.

The link with Article 17 was first put forward by Sport when they covered Henk ten Cate's alleged calls to the Brazilian, a story both sides later denied.

As for Ronaldinho being unhappy, there were few signs of that on Saturday at Espanyol as he laughed and joked on the bench with the other squad members.

While the former PSG star is not performing at his best the rumours will continue and while Frank Rijkaard continues to protect him, reports will be made up to suit the media's needs.

[lionel]

why can't barcelona say goodbye to a star in a nice and peaceful way? romario, rivaldo, and others I think ended their period at barcelona with a bad taste...

[Pennywise]

Originally Posted by lionel

why can't barcelona say goodbye to a star in a nice and peaceful way? romario, rivaldo, and others I think ended their period at barcelona with a bad taste...

Bernd Schuster for example. Figo (but that's another story)

However, you should sell Ronaldinho to Chelsea. You'll get a big offer who will secure your economy for a long time with new players, etc...AND Ronaldinho is not your best player anymore either. Barca will survive a Ronaldinho transfer 'cus of your little Argentinan called Lionel Messi.

BTW, he will stay in Barcelona IMO !

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Pennywise

Bernd Schuster for example. Figo (but that's another story)

However, you should sell Ronaldinho to Chelsea. You'll get a big offer who will secure your economy for a long time with new players, etc...AND Ronaldinho is not your best player anymore either. Barca will survive a Ronaldinho transfer 'cus of your little Argentinan called Lionel Messi.

BTW, he will stay in Barcelona IMO !

I agree.

I hope you are wrong that he will stay. if he moves to chelsea just now in january it will be great for everyone (except of the chelsea bosses who are going to pay such great amounts for a fat guy).

barcelona won't miss ronaldinho at all. we simply have better players. the only advantage ronnie has is that he is a big game player. and in the CL quarter-final for example, I'd rather have ronaldinho than bojan/giovanni. but we have henry who is just the same thing now.

[Pat Murphy]

Agent: Milan Have Enquired About Ronaldinho

AC Milan have made an enquiry about signing Ronaldinho, according to his brother and agent Roberto de Assis.

The Barcelona superstar is going through some troubled times with the Spanish giants and was recently dropped from the starting line-up during the games with Lyon and Espanyol.

Although he returned and scored a penalty against Deportivo La Coruna yesterday evening, the playmaker is not showing the kind of form that has twice seen him crowned FIFA World Player of the Year.

This has led to persistent rumours that, with Lionel Messi the new star of the team, Ronaldinho will be allowed to leave.

Milan have long been linked with a move for the 27-year-old and President Silvio Berlusconi is a confirmed admirer.

“There has been contact between AC Milan and Barcelona during a G-14 meeting,” said de Assis.

“The Italian club are trying to obtain an option on the player in case Barcelona ever decide to sell him.”

Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Ronaldinho, however it is believed that the large Brazilian contingent present at San Siro could be a key factor in any possible transfer.

The Rossoneri have the likes of Kaka, Cafu, Emerson and Nelson Dida already in their first-team squad, while teenage wonderkid Alexandre Pato will be eligible to play from January onwards.

Goal.com

Goal.com - AC Milan - Agent: Milan Have Enquired About Ronaldinho


Ronaldinho Wants Milan Move – Albertini

Italian Football Federation Vice-Commissioner and former Milan star Demetrio Albertini says that Ronaldinho wants to move to the Rossoneri.

The Italian press has gone into overdrive over the past week or so with stories that the Barcelona star is set to leave Spain.

Yesterday Ronaldinho’s agent and brother Roberto de Assis revealed that Milan had made enquires about the 27-year-old, and Albertini has now further fuelled rumours of a transfer.

“I would sign Ronaldinho right away, even if I don’t think he would leave Barça before the end of the season,” Albertini stated.

“He may seem happy on the pitch, but he is a lot more introverted in the dressing room and he told me at my farewell game that he is in love with the fans and the stadium in Milan. If he had to choose another side, it would be a great club like the Rossoneri.”

Albertini had a glittering career with Milan, graduating through the youth system and making 293 appearances between 1988 and 2002.

He also enjoyed a brief six-month stint with Barcelona in 2005 before retiring from the game.

Albertini won 79 caps for the Italian national team, and played at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, as well as Euro 96’ and Euro 2000.

Goal.com

Goal.com - AC Milan - Ronaldinho Wants Milan Move – Albertini


2 new stories that only really tell us that Milan have enquired about Ronaldinho recently. In the summer they made a £40m bid, but Milan are still interested in Ronaldinho. The second story tells us that Ronnie admires Milan a lot so would possibly be his preferred destination if he left but that's only on Albertini's say so.

[lionel]

I always thought he'll end up in milan... I hope it happens in january.

we should get some good money from them.

[Pat Murphy]

I think a few parties, including Laporta have said that he will definately not leave in January.

I think that from now until the end of the season will be an evalution period for both Barca and Ronaldinho to see if we want to keep him and for him to see if he wants to stay.

[lionel]

but he must sign a new contract NOW or (I think) we won't get much for him if we want to sell him in the end of the season.

the way he played today I don't mind him as a bench player as long as he doesn't cause troubles with complaints and such... but we all know keeping ronaldinho on our bench will cause big trouble.

[Pat Murphy]

Neeskens Impressed With Ronaldinho

Johan Neeskens was delighted with Ronaldinho's display in the victory over Stuttgart on Wednesday evening and admitted that he has no preferences who Barça a drawn with in the next round.

The Dutchman was in charge of team affairs for the evening as Frank Rijkaard was suspended and was not allowed into the press conference or to sit on the bench.

Goals from Giovani Dos Santos, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho gave the Blaugrana victory after Antonio da Silva had put the visitors into the lead early on.

"We have achieved what we wanted to, which was to win this game and play well," Neeskens said. "The team showed great morale and a good mentality, so we can be pleased.

"We had three or four consecutive chances to equalise after they had gone ahead and I am pleased."

Ronaldinho earned the stand-on boss' praise as the Brazilian set up Giovani for Barça's opener before netting the third to cap an impresive display.

"Ronnie is always motivated and happy and today he also worked very hard for the team, giving an assist and scoring a great goal himself," Neeskens continued.

"We expect to continue like this now."

Looking ahead to the seven teams that Barcelona can face in the next round Neeskens said that he had no preference.

"There are some very good teams and I have no preference because I have respect for them all," he explained.

Eidur Gudjohnsen had said that he hopes that Barça have a chance to gain revenge for last season against Liverpool and the Dutchman understood.

"Guddy may have stronger opinions because he played for Chelsea against Liverpool many times, but the team has not preferences," he concluded.

Goal.com

Goal.com - Barcelona - Neeskens Impressed With Ronaldinho


Hopefully Ronaldinho can build on this game and get back to something like his former self. I think it's about a 1% chance we'll see the same Ronaldinho, an 80% Ronaldinho is the best we can hope for.

[lionel]

Zahavi Denies Negotiating Ronaldinho To Chelsea Move

Agent Pini Zahavi says he has not been in Barcelona to negotiate the January transfer of Ronaldinho from Barca to Chelsea.


There have been media reports claiming that Israeli agent Pini Zahavi has been in Barcelona to discuss Ronaldinho's availability during a meeting with officials of the Catalan club.

However, Zahavi says he is unaware of any possible deal for Chelsea to take the Brazilian superstar to Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window.

"I have not come here to talk or negotiate about Ronaldinho," Zahavi is quoted as saying in Sport.

"Everything I know I have read in the press. I do not know if there are any talks planned with Chelsea and I have no idea what will happen in the future."

Zahavi insists that his business in Barcelona is to discuss a new contract for Giovani Dos Santos, another player who has been linked with Chelsea, and whose current contract is variously reported to expire either at the end of this season or in 2012.

However, Zahavi did confirm that Dos Santos is not on a long-term contract at Camp Nou, but is hoping to agree an extension with the club.

He added: "He does not have a contract until 2012. He has a short contract. If he had a long contract I would not be here and would not need to be talking to Barca.

"I have a very special relationship with Barcelona and I go there every three or four weeks.

"Of course, we are talking about Giovani, but there has been nothing certain.

"We are only halfway through the season. We shall see what happens, but anything could happen. I do not know if it will be easy."

Goal.com - Transfer Zone - Zahavi Denies Negotiating Ronaldinho To Chelsea Move

[D-Kin]

If he moves he's going to Milan.